Kolkata: Calcutta High Court rejected public interest litigation (PIL) on Wednesday that challenged West Bengal government’s decision to grant a donation of Rs 10,000 to at least 28,000 puja committees during this year’s Durga puja.

The PIL was filed by Advocate Dyutiman Banerjee and another citizen Sourav Gupta. A division Bench of the High Court, which comprised of the acting chief justice Debasish Kar Gupta and justice Shampa Sarkar, stayed the decision of the government till Tuesday.

Innovative street graffiti, reflecting the journey of the sex workers, was unveiled by a community Durga Puja organiser at the puja premises of a club in Kolkata on Monday, ahead of the four-day Durga Puja celebrations next week

State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said last week that she respects the court, but the money was already disbursed by the government after the announcement in September end.

Representing the state, Advocate General Kishore Dutta submitted an affidavit on Tuesday and mentioned to the court that the funds offered to the puja committees was offered as part of the road safety programme scheduled to be carried out by the clubs.

Dutta also mentioned during the argument that that granting Rs 10,000 was an executive order and the court cannot interfere in it. This argument was accepted by the division bench on Wednesday.